Communication

If you didn't know, I love music. The band Rise Against has a song called "Swing Life Away" that starts out with a line that I think is applicable to the topic of communication. It says, "Am I loud and clear, or am I breaking up?" That is a thought that I know regularly pops into my head.
Relationships are built on communication, and frankly, kids aren't being taught to communicate. Sure, they take public speaking in high school and they learn to write letters and all that, but they aren't taught to truly share their hearts. Boys are told it's girly to share and talk about their feelings, and girls seem to think that if they share how they feel, they'll get hurt. They also aren't taught to listen. Listening is just as important. If you can't listen, then you are just as bad off.
This mentality and fear that is taught to us is killing our relationships. Couples struggle to talk to each other. Marriages are breaking down. People lose their faith. These things are all over. Everyone knows someone who's broken up with a girl/boyfriend, who's been divorced, who's lost their faith. It's hard on them. And it all starts with a lack of communication.
The biggest thing is a lack of listening in my life. I hate listening sometimes. When I pray, I'm too impatient to wait for an answer. With my girlfriend, I get tired of hearing her complain (if you read this, sorry). And that's wrong. People need to be listened to. When nobody listens to you, you feel ignored and alone. You feel like nobody cares.
Everyone should feel listened to. Nobody is truly alone. I challenge everyone to find someone to listen to and connect with. It's tough, but worth it. In the words of Doug, "Dance with the girl nobody's dancing with." Don't leave someone alone because they look like they don't fit in. Include everyone. Love everyone. Thanks
Tyler

Facebook

Let's face it (pun intended), facebook is addictive. I spend probably three or four hours on it a day. It's kinda unhealthy.
We really probably should give a little less time to it, and more time for us to unwind and do healthy things, such as Kinect on 360, or Wii Fit. Something active. Obesity is a huge problem. I'm overweight, but not obese. I'm just a big guy. I can run a mile nonstop. Instead of sitting on a computer, we should sit outside and do something.  Americans are slightly unhealthy, and here in Knox county, we have the highest obesity rate in Illinois.
This is a shame and needs to change. So today, be active, exercise some, and put down the computer, except when reading this.
Tyler

So war es und...

A favorite band of mine, Rammstein, has a song called "Rosenrot". Part of the chorus is a line saying, "So war es und, so wird es immer sein." This treanslates into English to say,  "So it was, and so it will ever be." This line has been rattling around in my head for the past six months. It seems like a surrender.
I'm a very....spirited.... person. I don't like to give in. It's one of my faults. But this line says that there is no use in trying. That there is no hope to change things. A lot of  people are in bad situations. Homeless, unemployed, in prison, trapped in an addiction. There is always hope. Always. If you don't give in to your bad situation, and fight it, you can make it.
I'm not saying that you can do it alone. Support is never wasted. You can get help from your friends, your family, your God figure. Any way to get help is good. But remember, just because you feel stuck and always have, it doesn't mean that you can't get out of the place you're in. There's always a way out.
Tyler

Success

"Success is psychological." -Immortal Technique "Caught in a Hustle"
This quote made me think pretty deep today. Success is more in our heads than anything else. We set our own ideals for what it means to be successful. We have this whole system of rankings for how well we're doing in this world. We're also the only judge, it seems, and as a judge, we're meaner than Simon. We hold ourselves to such a huge standard that we hurt ourselves. We depress ourselves. I know a girl who is fighting very severe depression right now. She thinks she's fat. She thinks she's ugly. She thinks she's stupid. She thinks she's not worth the time of day for anyone.
Really, she's one of the prettiest girls I know. She's not fat, she's actually in amazing shape. She amazed me last time we worked out together. She's super smart, too. She's the reason I passed math my junior year. She has this set of beliefs about herself and about what she "should be" that keep her from showing her potential. She like all of us, holds herself back.
Remember the above quote? "Success is psychological." This is a big statement. We have the ability to change this. All we have to do is change our ideas of success. Set smaller goals for ourselves. If we fail, then set a smaller goal and keep going.
Today, I drew a heart on my wrist to spread awareness of teen suicide and depression. If you're reading this and you need help, there are a number of places that are more than willing. There's a hotline, 1-800-SUICIDE. I know that it's tough to talk to people sometimes, but the people that will answer the phone, and they will always answer, are there to help you. Also, you can try www.befrienders.org. This site has links to help sites, and all sorts of ways to get yourself help. If you aren't struggling with this, but know someone who may be, show them that you care. Say hello, ask them how they're doing, build a relationship, because sometimes, a relationship can be the thing to hold someone here and keep them alive. Be a friend.
Thanks,
Tyler

Little Things

So if you've ever seen Zombieland, you'd know that you need to appreciate the little things. Little things are huge. Today is earth day/good friday. I worked today and had so much fun. Little kids got to learn how to plant flowers in milk cartons and I got to teach them how to do it.
My youngest sister, age nine, came to my work. She seemed upset, but I couldn't get her to tell me about it.I kind of figured it out. She misses me. She rarely, if ever sees me at home. I'm always at school, work, or doing my own thing.
I made a decision today. I got paid today, so I decided to take her out for a nice supper. Sadly, tonight I can't because my father needs the truck. But tomorrow night, I'm going to take her somewhere very nice to eat. A Tyler sis date. It's one of the little things my girlfriend told me she loved when she was younger.
All I'm really saying is a continuation of yesterday. Take the time to build a relationship with the people around you.
A freshman died this morning in a town near mine. It has really hit the community hard. It can happen to anyone. Remember to hold tight to those around you and those you love.
Tyler

Working

Working plays a big part in my life. I love my job. It's fun, pays decently, and I have a good group of coworkers (and my boss looks like Steve Carrell), but it isn't the only thing that I need to work on. I also work at school. I work at being a good son and a good big brother. I work at being a good boyfriend. I want to be that awesome friend everyone loves.
I kinda fail at all of these at different points of time. I'm lazy at work. I procrastinate. I ignore teachers and can't take constructive criticism. I'm egotistical. I'm ungrateful. I'm mean to my siblings, all four of which are younger. I set a bad example for them sometimes. Actually, pretty often. They still look up to me though, even after all of the ways I disappoint them. I'm even a bad boyfriend. I ignore her, I'm rude, I'm jealous, I put myself first, I make fun of her family for being rich. I rarely apologize. She forgives me every time and sticks with me. I don't know why. I'm a bad friend. I stop talking to friends, I never hang out with them, I lose touch and don't always care.
I try to do my best all the time. It doesn't always work. I rarely do my best. I get too wrapped up in myself. There's a lesson in everything. I mean it. In every situation there's something to learn. Take some time to actually spend time with friends. Be a good sibling. Let your parents know you appreciate them. Let the boyfriend or girlfriend in your life know that you care. Humble yourself and help people. Smile more. Thanks for reading.
Tyler

Singing

So today, I'm in a singing mood. I get in those. Singing helps me relax, even if I don't hear a difference between my head voice and my chest voice. But that's for another day. Today I've been singing random Lifehouse songs. Lifehouse is one of my favorite bands, and for good reason.
They have a sound to their music that is relaxing. Beyond the sound, their lyrics are amazing. They present a message of hope and peace. They have a way of just putting me in a contemplative mood. They help me refocus.
Sometimes, it's necessary to just refocus your life. We tend to wrap ourselves up in everything. Our stress, our friends' stress, and every problem we can think of. It's a terrible thing. We need to take some time sometimes (yes, I just did that) to just recenter our lives where they need to be centered, be that in our families, in our faith, in ourselves, but we need to recenter.
Just consider it,
Tyler

School

So, I got to thinking yesterday. I don't remember much from fifth grade. Not in general, but the things we were taught. I think I know why, and forgive my opinion. I believe that school is more meant to teach us how to grow up. I don't think it's so much the random facts, which don't hurt to know, but the lessons of time management and responsibility they start to teach us at a young age.
Also, they teach us to think for ourselves. This is a pretty useful thing to know, just saying. They teach us to accept the limits placed upon us by this world. They teach us to accept the ruling powers in our lives. They teach us to be a part of society.
Next time you have an urge to drop out or just skip, think about it. Think about what you're missing out on learning.
Tyler

Daily Wisdom

Lately, I've noticed lots of things. One of those things is all of these celebrities having mental breakdowns. As funny as it is to see Britney attack with an umbrella or Sheen with his corner, it is also sad. These are grown adults. They should be mature enough to handle their lives.

This is the main point. Today, society tells parents to spoil their children. You know what, when kids are raised to appreciate the little things, they have this built-in ability to actually deal with life. When something goes wrong, they don't give up on life. They have the power to be, if not happy with their life, at least able to smile. 

Just a few short words of wisdom. Take them as you will.

Tyler

Music

So, throughout my day here at college, I frequent youtube. Not for the stupid videos, nor for the videos themselves. I look for music. If you have a band name, you can search it and it will even give you suggestions. This isn't about selling youtube though. My guess is that you're probably a frequent user, too. Music has a way of speaking. It speaks right to our hearts.
Music is powerful. It can change your mood, can make you feel bad for past actions towards others, even bring closure to an old emotional wound. Lately, I've seen a lot of my friends go to war. It's been kind of painful. Some are gone, and some are newly signed up, ready to be shipped off to boot camp. One of my new favorite songs has really made me think.
It says, "They say war is necessary, we say war is child abuse." Our nation takes children, eighteen year old boys and girls, people who aren't even old enough to drink in a bar, subjects them to stress and duress that is very unhealthy, under the guise of "training" and "strengthening" them. Then, they randomly pick which ones they want to send overseas to defend this country that loves them.
I don't know about you, but that treatment doesn't feel like love. If it is love, I want no part of that love. I'll deal without. I support our troops. They are modern day heroes. They protecting us, giving up their lives in some cases. All for a cause that we may or may not be privy to.
Well, it's time for me to go for now. Think about what I've said. Thanks for reading.
Tyler

New Blog

So lately, I've been kinda wanting to do a blog. No clue why, but just kinda have. Am I weird? A bit. Eccentric? You could say that. Really, I just have a lot to say. On a lot of subjects. I guess this will get it out of my system. So, enjoy my posts, be they random, funny, ranting, poetic, or whatever else, and just keep reading. Thanks guys.
Tyler